Pickleball tournament draws competitors from miles away

Celeste Bittner prepares to serve in her first game of Saturday's Pickleball tournament at Kids America.(Photo: Audra McClain/Tribune)

COSHOCTON - People from as far as New York, Maryland and Michigan traveled down to Coshocton to play in a pickleball tournament on Saturday and Sunday at Kids America.

Around 80 people competed in the USA Pickleball Association-governed event, including teammates Jesse Mcintosh from the Dayton area and Tom Hack from the Cincinnati area.

Although they had just finished defeating the opposing team, 15-4, Hack made note of the competitive players at the tournament.

“The competition is really good," he said. "Every game has been tough, but I think we have played fairly well thus far."

But the tournament was not only enjoyable for those who were winning, but also for the teams that had some rough starts.

Teammates Celeste Bittner and Kathy Demetri made the trip to Kids America from Pennsylvania on the snowy Saturday and still kept up an enthusiastic attitude after losing their first match of the tournament, 15-8.

“This was our first game, but I think we played awesome. We are just getting revved up,” Demetri said.

Bittner added, “I am excited to continue to play, it is a great past time.”

With all three of Kids America courts packed, you would be surprised that just a few years ago in 2017, there were only three local members playing.

As the years have progressed and the sport has gotten more exposure, Kids America has seen more than 30 regular people participating in the sport.

Although many of the pickleball players are older adults, people of all ages are welcomed to play the sport.

“When I first started about three years ago, everyone was older than us,” Hack said. “Now I see 20 and 30 year olds getting into it. They are teaching it in gym classes at schools, the popularity is really starting to take off.”

Kids America is planning to host a tournament every year and are anticipating another pickleball event this May with more information to come later.

“Once people come play it a couple of times, they see that it is easy to play and a good way to meet new people and have fun,” Kids America’s pickleball director and instructor Rob Veitch said. “You can play a competitive game then walk off the court and be friends.”

The teams have open courts from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and practices are held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

People of all ages and backgrounds are welcomed.

For more information on becoming a member of the pickleball club or on any of the programs offered, call Kids America at 740-622-6657 or visit their website at kidsamerica.org.